Quick emptying means for tanks



Jan. 29, 1957 J JENSEN QUICK EMPTYING MEANS FOR TANKS 4 Shee'ts-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 1955 INVENTOR JULIO T. JENSEN ATTORNEYS Jan. 29, 1957 J. T. JENSEN QUICK EMPTYING MEANS FOR TANKS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 1, 1955 FIG.2

INVENTOR JULIO T. JE NSEN ATTORNEYS Jan. 29, 1957 JENSEN 2,779,027

QUICK EMPTYING MEANS FOR TANKS Filed Aug. 1. 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR guuo T. JENSEN ATTORNEYS Jan. 29, 1957 J. T. JENSEN QUICK EMPTYING MEANS FOR TANKS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 mad Aug. 1, 1955 FIG.4

INVENTOR JULIO T. JENSEN ATTORNEYS 1nited I m Pew-O" 2,779,027 QUICK EMPTYING MEANS FOR TANKS Julio T. Jensen, Santiago, Chile Application August 1, 1955, Serial No. 525,679

10 Claims. (Cl. 450) This invention relates to quick emptying means for tanks, and especially quick emptying means for water closet tanks.

It is an important object of my invention to provide an improved quick emptying means for the flush tank of a water closet operating on the syphon principle.

Another object of the invention is to provide a syphon means that will eliminate the noises which have heretofore accompanied the use of such devices.

A still further object is the provision of a double syphon means that is so constructed that it may be operated manually or automatically.

A further object is the provision of a quick emptying tank valve that will automatically empty the tank if, due to a defective inlet valve, the water level in the tank rises beyond a desired height.

Other and further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following specification, in which like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views, and in which:

Fig. l is a section of the device in condition prior to operation,

Fig. 2 is a section of the device with the syphon valve lifted and showing the operation of the device,

Fig. 3 shows a similar section and illustrates the operation of the device to prevent overflow of the tank, and

Fig. 4 shows in section a modification of the device.

As seen in Fig. 1, the quick draining means is mounted in a tank 8 having a drain connection 7 secured in its bottom by a gasketed coupling 6.

The device itself in the example illustrated comprises a syphon tube 1, having a plurality of large openings 1 around its upper extremity, and extending downwardly nearly to the bottom of a countersyphon 2 which, with syphon tube 1, forms a trap. A drainage passage or chamber 3 surrounds countersyphon container 2 and a bell cover 4 encloses the whole assemblage and extends down to a position near the bottom of tank 8. Bell cover 4 forms the outer wall of the entire syphon system. Bell cover 4 is provided with a small opening 4', seen in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 on the right just above the level of the top of drainage chamber 3.

. At the bottom of drainage chamber 3 is an apertured ring provided with an annular rib 3' to seat against a gasket 6' when the device is in its normal position. Guide means 3" project downwardly from ring into drain connection '7 to assure alignment of the device on the drain connection.

A small vent pipe 9 connects the upper end of syphon tube 1 with a vent opening located in the bottom surface of the annular rib 3 so that it is normally sealed.

A second vent pipe connects the central portion of syphon tube 1 to the upper end of drainage chamber. This vent pipe is U-shaped, the bottom of the U passing through the wall of syphon tube 1 above the bottom edge of the tube and, in drainage chamber 3, it extends just 2,779,027 I Patented Jan. 29, 1957 far enough above the edge of countersyphon 2 that water expelled from the vent cannot re-enter the vent. The exact location of the end of the vent pipe in tube 1 and the exact height at which the bottom of the U-shaped tube passes through the wall of tube 1 will depend on the specific manner in which the device is to operate. In some instances, moreover, the end of the vent tube in chamber 3 may extend through the wall of countersyphon 2 to bring the end of the tube lower in chamber 3. The effect of such changes on the device as illustrated would change the level at which the device will become automatic, as will be seen below.

Looking now at Fig. 1 and assuming the tank 8 to be empty, the float valve will be open to admit a fresh charge of water, and the tank will commence to fill. There will be, at this time, a substantial weight of water in countersyphon 2 which will assure a good seal of rib 3' against gasket 6' and will seal vent pipe 9.

As tank 8 fills, the water level inside bell cover 4 will keep pace with the water level outside since air will be vented from bell cover 4 through vent 4. As the water rises above vent 4' air pressure will commence to build up in hell cover 4 which will, of course, depress the water level in syphon tube 1 and cause an overflow of Water from countersyphon 2 into drainage chamber 3 and so out drain connection 7 which is, of course, open to atmosphere.

Normally the float valve will close when the water level rises to the desired depth in tank 8 and the system will become stabilized until manual operation of the device.

Figure 2 illustrates the manual operation of the device. In this figure the rib 3 has been lifted from gasket 6 and the water rushes under ribs 3 into drain connection 7. In doing this the lower end of vent tube 9 is opened and the air in the upper portion of syphon tube 1 will vent, the differential level of Water in tank 8 will force the water level in bell cover 4 to rise and flow into and fill syphon tube 1. The syphon thus started, the water will continue to flow as indicated, even though the rib 3' again seats on gasket 6, until the tank is emptied. As soon as air flows into the bell cover 4 at the bottom the syphon will be broken and the tank will again commence to fill.

The vent 4 is always open, yet the presence of this vent will not break the syphon when the water level in tank 8 falls below it for the reason that it is sufliciently small to prevent more than small bubbles to enter the bell cover and the small bubbles are entrained in the rush of water and many such bubbles will be carried down through the syphon'system to drain 7.

In flush tanks using the previously known flush valves or quick drain devices it has been necessary to provide a second drain to prevent overflow of tank 8 in case the float valve did not seat properly to cut off the supply of Water or when the float failed to rise due to jamming or to a leak in the float. No such extra overflow drain is necessary when using the device of my invention since the device will automatically operate to empty the tank when the water level rises to a greater depth than is desired.

This automatic emptying of the tank is brought about by vent tube 5. As the depth of water increases in tank 8 the air pressure in bell cover and the upper end of syphon tube 1 increases. This pressure depresses the level of the water in the lower end of syphon tube 1 and forces some water up over the edge of countersyphon container 2, into drainage chamber 3, which is open to atmosphere through drain connection 7. When the level of the water in syphon tube 1 falls to the level of the bottom of U-shaped vent tube 5, as seen in Fig. 3, any water in tube 5 will be expelled into chamber 3 and the air from syphon tube 1 will be vented to atmosphere through chamber 3 and drain connection 7. The water level in bell cover 4 will rapidly rise, flow into and fill syphon tube 1 and start the syphon to drain tank 8.

It will be noted that if the bottom of the U-shaped vent tube 5 were higher in the tube 1 the automatic draining action would take place sooner as the air in the bell of the syphon would be vented to atmosphere sooner.

The device of Fig. 4 is the same as that of Fi s. 1, 2 and 3, except that a second air vent 4" is provided somewhat closer than vent 4. A valve 10 is provided which may be operated manually by an extension 16' to select which of the vents 4' or 4" is to be used. If the vent 4' is used the device will be normally manually operated, but if vent 4 is used the device will operate automatically as the air pressure in bell cover 4 and syphon pipe 1 will build up to vent the air before the float valve will operate to cut ofi the supply of water to the tank. If

at any time it is desired to return the device to manual operation it is only necessary to move the end 10' of the extension to the right to bring vent 4 into operation.

In Fig. 4 a lever 11 is shown that, when in the full line position, blocks the movement of the float to prevent its cutting of? the flow of water to the tank. will be understood, then, that the water will attain a depth greater than when the device is under normal manual operation. The operation of the device will, then, be automatic since, as noted above, the syphon will operate to prevent overflow of the tank.

It will be understood that the broader features of my invention are independent, of the specific devices described above and shown in the drawings and that various changes can be made in the construction and an rangement of the device within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A quick emptying means for tanks comprising a bell, a syphon tube within and connected to said bell open at the top to said bell, said syphon tube extending downwardly into a countersyphon container, and a drainage chamber opening into a drainage connection surrounding said countersyphon container.

2. A quick emptying means for a tank comprising a syphon, the discharge end of which terminates in a countersyphon container to form a trap, a discharge passage connecting the discharge from said trap to a drainage connection, and air vent means to vent the air from said syphon to said discharge passage.

3. The quick emptying means of claim 1, in which the drainage chamber is provided at its bottom with an opening connecting with said drainage connection, a peripheral rib on said chamber surrounding said opening, a gasket on said drainage connection whereby the drainage chamber is normally in water-tight engagement with said drainage connection, and means to lift said drainage chamber.

4. The quick emptying means of claim 3, including a guide means to insure alignment of said discharge chamber with said drain connection.

5. The quick emptying means of claim 1, in which the drainage chamber is provided at its bottom with an opening connecting with said drainage connection, a peripheral n'b on said chamber surrounding said opening, a gasket on said drainage connection whereby the drainage chamber is normally in water-tight engagement with said drainage connection, and a vent tube connecting the upper portion of said syphon tube with the bottom of said annular rib whereby said vent tube will normally be sealed against said gasket.

6. The quick emptying means of claim 5, including a second vent tube connecting the central portion of said syphon tube to said discharge chamber whereby the quick emptying means will operate automatically to empty the tank when the liquid level in the tank attains a predetermined level.

7. The quick emptying means of claim 2, in which the discharge passage from the trap includes an annular rib seating on a gasket mounted on the drainage connection, and in which means is provided for raising said rib from said gasket to start operation of said syphon.

8. The quick emptying means of claim 7, including a vent tube connecting the upper end of said syphon to the bottom edge of said rib whereby said vent will be sealed when said rib contacts said gasket but will be open when said rib is raised from said gasket.

9. In a quick emptying means which may be operated manually or automatically, said means comprising a bell, a syphon tube within and connected to said bell, said syphon tube being open at its top to said bell, said syphon tube extending downwardly into a countersyphon container, and a drainage chamber opening into a drainage connection surrounding said countersyphon container, and at least one small vent opening through said bell to act as a check to the syphon effect of said device so located as to fix the critical level of automatic operation of the emptying means.

10. The quick emptying means of claim 9, in which there are two vent openings through said bell at diflerent levels and means are provided for selective opening of said openings.

References Cited in the file of this patent FOREIGN PATENTS 21,911 Great Britain Nov. 30, 1892 144,793 Switzerland Apr. 1, 1931 148,722 Switzerland Oct. 16, 1931 772,717 France Aug. 20, 1934 

